Urgent call:We have until the 10th August 2016 to stop FSANZ from permitting irradiation of our superfoods of blueberries and raspberries.

These two major Superfoods are renowned all over the world as a healer of the human body and mind with numerous health benefits. The chances of a reduction or complete loss in the antioxidants, anthocyanins and pterostilbene are very high with irradiation.

The Australian blueberry crop has increased four-fold in the past six years to be more than $132 million and raspberries $37 million and both continue to increase in trade only because the consumers know of the superfood status of these berries.

The dangers of irradiation are well known with Furan for example, a volatile genotoxic carcinogen to have been found in studies of irradiated blueberries and raspberry products. Any levels of Furan are unacceptable for human consumption.

There is no doubt Australian consumers will react and turn away from purchasing these berries, simply by the loss of antioxidants in these once loved nutrient-rich foods. The cost of losing the Superfood status of these berries will directly result and influence the decrease in the Australian economy and the loss of employment for people in this industry.